machine for husking



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G, E. D BALDWIN.

I MACHINE FOR 'HUSKING, SILKING, AND CUTTING CORN. PTO-[297,742.Patented Apr. 29, 1884.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- G.E .D..13ALDW I1 I .MAGHINE FOR HUSKING, S'ILKING, .AND CUTTING00311. No. 297,742. Patented Apr. 2.9, 1884.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. E. D. BALDWIN. MACHINE FOR HUSKING;SILKING, AND OUTTING'OORN.

Patentd'Apr'. 29; 1884.

(No Model. I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. 'E..,D. 'BALDWI N.

MACHINE FOR HUSKING, SILKING, AND G TING com.

No. 297,742. Patented Apia-29; 1884.

R. s. j g. R

& E R R x 1Q 1.

\ M g k (No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 5.

G -E. 1 BALDWIN. I MACHINE FOR HUSKIN G, SILKING, AND UUTTING COR N. No.297,742. Patented Apr. 29, 1884.

I a? f&,7&0ww jVizinesjjs V r a I fnvenzjof Attorneys 1 .(N-o Model.) 6S heets-Sheet 6.

v G. E. .D.- BALDWIN. MACHINE FOR HUSKINGQS-ILKINmAND CUTTING 001111.No; 297,742. Pa, ted 'A 1229,1884.

VVz'zfnesses Attorneys *NiTED STATE PATENT Fries;

GEORGE E. D. BALDWIN, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssIeNoR, BY DI- REGT ANDMESN E ASSIGNMENTS,

TO LAWRENCE W. COUNSELMAN AND ALBERT L. SGOIT, BOTHKDF SAME PLACE.-

MACHINE FOR HUSKlNG, SILKING, AND CUTTING COR'N.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,742, dated April29, 1884.

Application filed September 18, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. D. BALD' WIN, a resident of Baltimorecity, State, of. Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Husking, Silking, and Cutting Corn, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which a Figure 1, Sheet1, is aview in side elevation of the left half of my machine. Fig. 1,

Sheet 2, is a similar view of the;right half thereof. Fig. 2, Sheet 3,is a plan view of they left half thereof. Fig. 2, Sheet 4, is a similarview of the right half thereof. Fig. 3, Sheet 5, is an end view of theslittingknives and their frame, an ear of corn being shown in section.Fig. 4, Sheet 5, is a detail view, showing the manner of constructingand mounting one of the slitting-knives. Fig. 5, Sheet 5, is a sideview, showing the manner of mounting the guards for the slittingknives.Fig. 6, Sheet 5, is a detail view of one of the cutting-off knives. Fig.7, Sheet 6, is a side View of the feed-chain. Fig. 8, Sheet 6, is an endview thereof. Fig. 9, Sheet 6, is an 'end view of the knives for cuttingthe corn from the cob, showing the spiral guides in section. Fig. 10,Sheet 6, is a plan View of one of these guides and the knives. Fig. 11,Sheet 6,is a plan view of the sieves for separating the cut-off cornfrom the silk. Fig. 12, Sheet 5, is an elevation of a modified form ofbrushes and the means for driving them. Fig. 13, Sheet 5, is an-endelevation of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate the same 1 parts in all thefigures.

' now proceed to fully describe, the points of noveltybeing speciallypointed out in the claims hereto appended.

A is theframeof the machine, supported on the legs A. It issubstantially rectangularin shape, and carries upon it all the operatingparts of the machinery except the 'seives. The frame A isskeleton inform, as much be ing cut away under the operating devices as ispossible, having due regard to strength, in order to permit the droppingthrough of the husks and prevent their clogging up the machine. Uponthis frame A, near each end, are mounted standards a a, in which arejournaled, respectively, shafts a a which are provided withsprocket-wheels a* a carrying the feedbelt B, which consists of twodrive-chains connected at intervals by cross-bars I), each of which hasadownward-projecting pusher, I). (See Figs. 7 and 8.) This belt B servesto feed the ears of corn completely through the machine. The shaft a isalso provided at one end of its ends with a pulley or sprocketwhcel, a,over which passes the belt or drivechain a and which is driven from thepowershaft 0, mounted in standards 0, secured to the frame A. The shaftatis also provided with a bevel-wheel, a which drives the secondbevel-wheel, a mounted on a shaft, a

which carries near its outer end a rotary cutting-knife, a. At theopposite end of the shaft of is another similar cutting-knife, a.

'An opening, a, is made through the table immediately on theinner sideof these knives, through which the cut-off portion of the ear drops.These knives revolve in contact with a cutting-edge, a, surrounding anopening, a, through which the end of the ear of corn is placed to be outoff. The knives are of the shape shown at Fig. 6, which gives a clearshearing out.

Mounted at intervals on the table are standards D D D D D, which serveas supports for a skeleton feed-trough composed of longitudinal bars d,said trough being composed of sections reaching from the different partsof the machine, in which trough'the ear of corn is supported between theoperating devices while being fed through the machine.

series of knives, e, mounted upon radial bars, 6, which move in sleeves0 which form part of another circular head, E, forming the upper part ofthe standards E. The bars 0, which carry the knives c, are held normallyin theirinner positions by spiral springs 0". (See Fig. 4.) The positionof the guards d with relation to the knives e is shown in Fig. 3, inwhich F represents the husk, and F the cob of the ear of corn.

The shaft C, before mentioned, is also provided with a pulley, G", toreceive a belt from the line or other shaft to drive the whole machine.It is also further provided with pulleys C" and G on each sidcot themachine, over which pass belts C" C. The belt 0, on one side of themachine, drives through the medium of a pulley, G, a shaft, G, uponwhich is mounted a rotary brush, g, which is one of a pair ofsuchbrushes, the other being mounted below it in the same uprights, anddriven by the belt 0 on the opposite side of the machine through themedium of pulley G. Inasmuch as these brushes are to be driven inopposite directions, one of the belts, C, is crossed. These rotarybrushes g'are concaved, leaving a space between the upper and lower onescircular in shape, and rotate in a direction opposite to the feed of thebelt B. Further on in the machine is mounted in suitable uprights, H,one or more pairs of similar brushes, 5 as many pairs being used as isnecessary or desirable. These brushes are driven in the same directionas the brushes 9 by means of the belts (l -one on each side of themachine engaging pulleys hit, one of said belts being crossed. When morethan one pair of brushes is used at this point, the second pair isdriven from pulleys on the shafts containing the pulleys, h h being theshafts of the brushes This completes the description of the constructionof the devices for husking corn, and inasmuch as this is the principalfeature of my invention, I will now proceed to describe their operationbefore describing the construction of the remainder of the machine,being the devices for cutting the corn off the cob and sifting it.

The ear of corn is taken by the operator and one end inserted in one ofthe openings a at the end of the machine, a suitable distance, which maybe determined by a gage, if. desired, said distance being such as willbring the joint between the stem and ear directly under the knife a" ora. The revolution of this knife severs the stem from the ear. The ear isnow reversed, and the silk end cut off by the knife. This leaves the earwrapped, as it were, in the husk, the husk having no hold at the ends.The car thus prepared is placed in the skeleton trough in front of thestandard D, and is pushed along by one of the cross-bars I) on belt B,or, should it be a small car, by the downward-projecting lip or pusherI). The ear, in its passage through the machine, passes between theguards d, which guide it so that it will come centrally between theradial inwardly-projccting knives c, and these guards, in the positionshown in Fig. 3, act as stops to the movement of the bars 0, and thusprevent said knives from entering the ear any deeper than is necessary,the necessary depth being to the inside of the husk only, thus avoidingany incision of the grain. In the passage of the ear these knives slitthe husk-intoas many strips as there are knives. The husk thus slittedremains on the car until it, in the continued movement of the belt 13,passes between the first series ofrotary brushes, g, which brushes,moving. as before stated, in a direction opposite to the feed, removethe husk. In many instances these brushes remove all of the husk andsilk from the ear; but in order that the operation may be the morethoroughly performed the additional brushes, 9, are provided, whichinsure a perfect cleaning in every individual instance. XVhen more thanone pair of the brushes 9 are used, a pair of idle-rollers, i, aremounted between the adjoining pairs and serve as guides for the car.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown a modified form of brushes which may beused as a substitute for the rotary brushes 5;. In this modification, onthe standards G is mounted, as before stated, a shaft, 0 which in thisinstance carries an eccentric, c, or eccentrics, the rod 0 from whichengages with a pin,- c", on the side of a brush, 0". This brush 0" isgrooved longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 13 at c", and is mounted inguides'c", as is also a similar brush, 0, connected in the same manner,by connecting-rod 0 to an eccentric, c, on the opposite end of the shaft(3, the eccentrics c and a being set exactly opposite each other onshaft 0, for the purpose of giving the forward stroke of one brush atthe same time as the backward stroke of the other. The brushes 0" and 0being placed one above the other, a circular opening, 0", is formedbetween them, as seen in Fig. 13, and as the ear of corn is passedbetween these brushes through this opening the slitted husk is loosenedfrom the cob and drops to the ground.

The machine, constructed and operated as hereinbefore described, is alsofurnished, as before stated, with mechanism for cutting the grains ofcorn off the cob and for sifting the corn thus cut off, in order to freeit from any silk which may remain in it. This mechanism I will nowproceed to describe.

Mounted on the bed of table A are two pairs of uprights, J J J J, havingat their upper ends circular heads J, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 9,) andsecured within these heads J are spiral strips K. These strips K aremounted on the inner ends of spring-impelled arms Ir,m0ving in sleevesj,which form part of the heads J These blades or strips K are providedwith inwardly-projecting blades K and broadened heads K these headsbeing formed with cutting-edges it If. These circular heads J as well asthe heads D and E, hereinbefore described, are provided with spacesj,through which the feed-belt passes.

ends of which are anti-friction rolls a, and

the lower ends of which are slotted to connect with rods 0 0 attached tothe ends of the sieve-s L L Around the rods 0 0 are spiral springs P P,which serve to hold the sieves L L- normally in their outer positions. aThe ear of corn, after havingbeen cleaned of its husk and silk,andhaving been passed through the last of the concavebrushes,is fed throughthe heads J 2 between the blades K. When the forward end encounters theedge is, the said knife-edge begins to cut the corn from the cob,cleaning a space on the cob of the width of said cutting-edge. Thefurther forward movement of the ear carries it to engage with theinward-projecting blades K,which, being set spiral with relation to eachother and the cob,

causes the cob to turn slightly as it is forced along, giving a shearcut and presenting all the surface to the action of the knife-edgesk kAs the corn is cut from the cob by these knives it drops through theopen bed of the machine onto the sieves, which, by the action of thewiper-Wheels M M, pivoted levers N v N, rods 0-0, and springs P P, arereciprocated, causing the corn to drop through the meshes of the sievesinto a receptacle placed beneath the bed of the machine to receive it,while any silk which may not have been removed by reason of its beinglocated beneath the grains of corn, as sometimes is the case, willremain in the sieves L L The cob will be carried out to the end of themachine by the feed -belt and there dropped 'upon' the ground or floor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, substantially as described, with the bed of themachine, of the standards D E, provided with circular heads D and E, theguide-bars d, secured within the heads D", and the knives 6, located inthe head'E', as set forth. l

2. The combination, with the circular head E, of the radialspring-impelled bars 6, provided with knives e, and the feed-beltB,-passing through said head and between said knives, for the purposeset forth.

3. The combination, in a corn huskingand silking machine, .of a seriesof radial inwardlypointed knives for longitudinally splitting the husk,and feed mechanism, substantially as described, for carrying the earbetween .said knives, as set forth.

4. In combination with the head E,provided with radially-arrangedsleeves 6 the bars 6, knives e, springs 0 head Diand spring-guards d, asset forth.

5. The combination, ina corn-husking machine, of a series ofinwardly-pointed radial knives for slitting the husk longitudinally, a'

pair of concave brushes for removing the husk from the ear, and acontinuous feed mechanismfor impelling the ear consecutively throughthese devices, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the bed of the machine, of the knives forslitting the husk, the concave brushes, knives for removing the cornfrom the ear, and continuous feed mechanism, as described, for impelling the car, as set forth.

7. The combination,with the bed of the machine, of knives for removingthe corn from the cob, feed mechanism for forcing the ear between saidknives, and reciprocating sieves locatedbclow said knives, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth. 7

8. The combination,with the bed of the machine, of knives for cuttingoff the ends of the ears,knives for slitting the husk longitudinally,concavebrushes for removing the husk, and a continuous feed mechanism,substan tially as described, for propelling the ear of corn, as setforth. p

9. The combination,with the bed 'of the machine, of knives for cuttingoff the end of the ear of corn, knives for slitting the husklongitudinally, brushes for removing the husk, and knives for removingthe corn from the cob, a feed-trough,sections of which are interposedbetween each of the devices, and a continuous feed mechanism,substantially-as described.

10. In combination, the bed of the machine and the following mechanismsmounted consecutively thereon and operated simultaneously, viz: aknifefor cutting off the end of an ear of corn, radial knives for slittingthe ear longitudinally, concave rotary brushes for removing the husk andsilk, and a continuous feed mechanism for impelling the ear entirelythrough the machine. v

11. The combination, with the bed of the machine and a feed mechanismfor impelling the ear entirely through the machine, of devices forcutting 0d the ends of the ears, devices for slitting the husk, devicesfor removing it from the ears, and mechanism for out:

. ting the corn from the cob, all arranged and operating substantiallyas set forth.

12. The combination, with the bed of the machine and a feed mechanismfor impelling the ear entirely through the machine, of devices forremoving the husk from ears of corn, and devices for removing the grainfrom the cob, substantially as set forth.

' GEORGE E. D. BALDWIN.

Witnesses:

J. MASON GOSZLER, ANDREW J ONES.

